Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday spearheaded the kick-off rites for the March 1 ban on the use of plastic bags in the markets.
Along with officials from the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department and personnel from the Market Development and Administration Department, Belmonte inspected markets in Galas, Munoz, Suki, A. Bonifacio, Frisco and Kamuning markets in Quezon City to distribute eco-bags to market-goers to encourage sustainable practices and promote the campaign on plastic waste reduction.
The city mayor also visited a supermarket in Barangay Kamuning.
The activity served as the kick-off event in relation to the re-implementation of the city’s Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance to start on March 1.
The plastic bag ordinance prohibits the distribution of plastic bags as carry-out bags in retail establishments throughout Quezon City.
Belmonte said the activity was also part of Quezon City’s celebration of Women’s Month in March to highlight the role of women in environmental protection.
Under the Kababaihan Para sa Kalikasan movement with the theme “Babae: Tayo ang Pagbabago,” women are encouraged to be more pro-active and be the catalysts for change given their important role in our households and communities.
“We suspended the implementation of the ordinance during the pandemic but now we can manage the pandemic better so we have to enforce it now. Plastics are one of the greatest polluters of our oceans and bodies of water, clogs our waste streams and pose health risks,” Belmonte said.
Any supermarket, mall, shopping center, fast food restaurant and other business violating the ban will be slapped with a P1,000 fine on the first offense, a P3,000 fine and revocation of environmental clearance on the second offense and on the third offense, revocation of business permit and a P5,000 fine.